Apartments: how to buy or rent without a marathon of listings
Buy, rent or a new build
The start of a flat search is choosing a format. The resale market gives a ready home and a known area. A new build gives fresh utilities and often better payment plans, but it needs finishing work and some waiting. A long-term rent is the more flexible option if you are not ready to buy yet.
The section has three directions: apartments for sale, new-build flats and long-term rent. Each has its own set of questions.
What to put in your request
- Buy or rent, and for rent, for how long.
- Place — city, area, nearness to the metro, a school or a bus stop.
- Bedrooms and size — for example, 2 bedrooms from 650 sq ft.
- Floor — not the ground or top floor, if that matters.
- Condition — renovated, not renovated, bare shell, furnished with appliances.
- Budget — a range; for rent, with or without maintenance charges.
- Features — balcony, parking, lift, power backup, water supply.
- Move-in terms — children, pets, date.
Example: “Looking for a 2-bedroom flat in Johannesburg, 650–750 sq ft, floors 3–8, renovated, for a long-term rent from October. With a small dog. Budget up to R 5,800 a month including maintenance.”
If you are buying with a home loan or a payment plan, say so in the request straight away: sellers and builders will write what terms they are ready to work on. Be sure to ask about any existing loans or claims on the flat, and ask for detailed photos of all the rooms and the view from the windows.
How to compare options
When buying, judge not the price per sq ft on its own but the whole package: the condition of the building, the neighbourhood, the documents, any unpaid maintenance dues. Check that the flat is free of claims and who lives in it. For a new build, ask about the builder, the stage of construction, the payment plan and what exactly is handed over (finished or not).
For a rental, compare the deposit, the pet policy, who pays the maintenance and whether there is a written agreement. Before you buy, bring in a property lawyer to check the documents.
Look at the building, not just the flat: the state of the entrance, the lift, the roof and the neighbours tells you a lot. Ask about water supply and power backup, and about the average monthly electricity bill in summer with the AC running. For a new build, find out whether the building has its occupancy certificate and when the keys are due.
If you are a tenant, ask for a list of furniture and appliances and photograph the flat when you move in. This protects you from arguments over the deposit.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
Instead of calling a dozen listings, you write one request on BlaBlaPrice. Owners and agents reply in the chat with a description, a price and terms. The system shows the offer that is best on the merits first, and there are reviews next to each. Owners can see where they stand among the others, so they can improve their terms. Your phone number stays hidden until you decide who gets your contact. More on the “How it works” page.
Common mistakes
Handing over an advance without checking the documents and the agreement. Not viewing the flat in the evening and in the rain, when noise and leaks show up. Not finding out what the maintenance covers. A request that is too broad: the more precise it is, the better the offers. A request stays active for 7 days and you can extend it.
